Network shows get canceled. Traditionally, one, maybe two, of the stars of a canceled program go on to find other TV work. Most become answers to trivia questions. Who remembers Joe Regalbuto? Anyone? More on that later. But it's different for cast members from the former WB and UPN series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Five regular cast members from that series have landed roles on network TV shows this fall. A sixth former cast member has a new show waiting in the wings. Alyson Hannigan, who played lesbian witch Willow on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," has a starring role in the new CBS Monday comedy "How I Met Your Mother."

It's tough for scholars to be taken seriously when their subject is a TV show about a teen fighting evil in a high school built on a gateway to hell. But enough professors and writers study "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and its spinoff, "Angel," to hold a deadly serious conference this weekend attracting more than 325 people. Buffyologists from as far away as Singapore were presenting 190 papers on topics ranging from "slayer slang" to "postmodern reflections on the culture of consumption" to "Buffy and the new American Buddhism."

"I'm very much one of those I've-got-to-see-it-to-believe-it kind of people. But also, I'm attracted to the idea of faith, and having faith in something bigger than what you see and something that you can't see. That's what faith is, right?" --Eliza Dushku talked with Q about the possibility of life after death. Appropriate, because her new Fox series, "Tru Calling" (7 p.m. Thursdays), has Dushku going hours back in time to prevent the untimely deaths of those who wind up in the city morgue where she works--after they ask her to help them.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer": In order to maintain its contractual obligation to chronicle the futility of a last-place baseball team, WGN-Ch. 9 in September often has to juggle around the WB network schedule. With most of the WB fare, this is not only not a problem, but a relief. But WB's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is one of the freshest TV series to hit the small screen in a decade; it deserves a steady home to help it find the maximum possible audience. Moved from Monday to this Saturday (8 p.m.)

Her fictional rivals may not get her, but a growing skittishness among some TV executives about violence has taken "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" off the air for the second time in a month. The WB network has shelved Tuesday night's episode, which depicts students attacking a monstrous mayor, even though it's the season finale and the second of two parts that began last week. The decision will be explained to viewers on the air. A "Buffy" rerun will run instead, and the shelved episode will air this summer.

Nearly every TV season brings a newly designated "It Girl." Last fall, Jennifer Garner of "Alias" was clearly "It." Years before, actresses elevated to the pedestal included Keri Russell of "Felicity" and Sarah Michelle Gellar of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." "It" anoints an emerging starlet who, by some alchemy of hype, buzz and happenstance, seems to lead the pack in fresh-faced appeal. This fall, Ashley Williams is a shoo-in with her new romantic comedy, "Good Morning Miami," which airs on NBC at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays.

By Nancy Watkins. Sources: Tribune files, University of Chicago, Milestone Traditions, University of Illinois, The WB | September 30, 2001

These students, decked out in turn-of-the-century costume for homecoming weekend, had good reason to be nostalgic for a time that predated their birth. The Maroon football dynasty was on the wane, and a year later the U. of C. announced its withdrawal from intercollegiate football for what would turn out to be 30 years. Without its traditional centerpiece game, homecoming gradually was superseded, in true U. of C. fashion, by the Humanities Open House. Most popular college mascot: THE EAGLE.

The third season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" showed that death isn't necessarily final for vampires with souls. That should be good news for James Marsters, who is scheduled to join the cast of "Buffy" spinoff "Angel" next season, despite the fact that his character, the vamp Spike, was disintegrating in the "Buffy" series finale. Jordan Levin, president of The WB Entertainment, is curious how Spike might be reintroduced to the world of the living. "We're awaiting word from [creator Joss Whedon]

Did you hear there may be a movie version of now-canceled "Veronica Mars"? At a news conference for his upcoming series, "Cupid," "Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas revealed his next writing project is a movie based on the cult show, etonline.com reported. That got us thinking about what other TV shows should hit the big screen. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Yes we know the original "Buffy" was a movie. But it was cheesy. Do-over! "The Sopranos" We need closure! Did Tony die or what?